moment. So, while you have a calm moment, we thought it would be a good idea to take a look at what’s an emergency and when you should go the ER. Otherwise, you probably should take your child to the urgent care center.

Kimberly Aaron, M.D., medical director of the Cook Children’s Emergency Department, gives us six things to check in helping make this decision.

Here are 6 signs your child may need to go to the emergency room. Is your child having:

1. Difficulty breathing
2. Poor skin color
3. Abnormal or altered behavior  
4. Major trauma
5. Severe pain
6. Persistent bleeding

When in doubt, always call 911. Cook Children’s has four Urgent Care Centers to treat your children, Fort Worth, Mansfield, Southlake and Northeast Hospital.

Related Links:

• Medical emergencies: are you prepared?
• Emergency contact sheet
• "What do I do?!" - First-aid and safety information
• Going to the emergency room
• Teaching your child how to use 911
• Is it a medical emergency?
• Poison first aid
• The well-stocked first-aid kit